1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lebanon County household earns $78,425, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lebanon County
- Jobs and commutes in Lebanon County
- What Lebanon County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lebanon County
- Lebanon County next to its neighbors
- Lebanon County towns compared
- What a median Lebanon County budget can carry
- People and households in Lebanon County
- Borrowing situations common in Lebanon County
- Pennsylvania rules that apply in Lebanon County
- A Lebanon County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lebanon County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lebanon County's population at 144,186; only 23 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 362 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 398 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Lebanon, PA metropolitan area. Of the 22 Census places inside Lebanon County, Lebanon leads by population with about 26,536; 8 of the 22 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Lebanon County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Lebanon County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The survey's unemployment rate for Lebanon County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Where residents work | Lebanon County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Lebanon County households earn
The median household income in Lebanon County is $78,425, close to the statewide $77,971. Only 17 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Lebanon County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -3.4 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.1%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.434 here. A household earning below the $78,425 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lebanon County
A typical Lebanon County rental runs $1,110 a month including utilities, which is 8% below Pennsylvania. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $242,000, or 3.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Home costs | Lebanon County | Pennsylvania | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,110/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $242,000 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | n/a |
Lebanon County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 36 miles). Lancaster County leads the group on income ($86,959), Northumberland County trails ($60,583), and Lebanon County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon County | - | $78,425 | $1,110/mo | 71% |
| Dauphin County, PA | 17 mi | $76,242 | $1,217/mo | 63% |
| Lancaster County, PA | 25 mi | $86,959 | $1,357/mo | 70% |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 26 mi | $68,313 | $876/mo | 76% |
| Berks County, PA | 28 mi | $79,777 | $1,181/mo | 71% |
| York County, PA | 34 mi | $84,829 | $1,193/mo | 76% |
| Northumberland County, PA | 36 mi | $60,583 | $806/mo | 75% |
Lebanon County towns compared
22 Census places fall mainly inside Lebanon County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 75,858 residents, leaving about 47% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $119,175 at the median in Campbelltown, $48,456 in Lebanon. Rent is cheapest in Avon ($782) and steepest in Cornwall ($3,023). None of the 22 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | city | 26,536 | $48,456 | $992 | 3 mi |
| Palmyra | borough | 7,755 | $77,469 | $1,084 | 8 mi |
| Campbelltown | CDP | 6,092 | $119,175 | $1,595 | 9 mi |
| Annville | CDP | 4,915 | $71,321 | $1,085 | 4 mi |
| Cornwall | borough | 4,623 | $107,583 | $3,023 | 8 mi |
| Newmanstown | CDP | 3,227 | $90,177 | $1,522 | 13 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | CDP | 3,128 | $55,676 | $1,100 | 3 mi |
| Myerstown | borough | 3,124 | $59,057 | $1,221 | 8 mi |
| Sand Hill | CDP | 2,513 | $100,583 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Lebanon South | CDP | 2,374 | $63,697 | $1,082 | 4 mi |
| Jonestown | borough | 1,893 | $89,000 | $1,056 | 3 mi |
| Cleona | borough | 1,882 | $72,688 | $1,094 | 2 mi |
| Richland | borough | 1,547 | $93,900 | $1,051 | 11 mi |
| Avon | CDP | 1,397 | $65,800 | $782 | 5 mi |
What a median Lebanon County budget can carry
Here is the Lebanon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,535 a month: gross income for a household at the Lebanon County median
- Median rent: $1,110, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,243 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lebanon County's.
People and households in Lebanon County
24% of Lebanon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Residents | Lebanon County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.3% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lebanon County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Lebanon County
What the Lebanon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Pennsylvania rules that apply in Lebanon County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lebanon County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
A Lebanon County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Lebanon County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lebanon County household make?
About $78,425 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
How does Lebanon County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$1,110 locally versus $1,209 for the state, 8% below.
Does this page cover Lebanon?
Yes, along with the other 21 Census places in Lebanon County, such as Palmyra, Campbelltown, Annville.
Can Lebanon County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Pennsylvania county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Lebanon County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.